The course aims at providing knowledge, skills and tools needed for analyzing, understanding and assessing strategic decisions about energy and sustainability. The course offers instruments to analyse the context, understand the main trends and phenomena affecting the energy industry, assess the different alternatives a company has in the management of energy and sustainability.

The course starts by providing a global framework of the energy sources and uses and of the strategic role of energy and sustainability for firms. Then, it focuses on the market and industry dynamics related to “traditional” sources (hydrocarbons and oil&gas), as well as renewable sources. Energy efficiency and the emerging paradigms of energy communities, digital energy, smart cities and smart grids are further investigated. The role of technological innovation and of the regulatory framework in the above mentioned industries is assessed providing students with a comprehensive view of the phenomena.

The discussion of business cases and examples, together with the presence of presentations by executives and managers, will encourage students to examine and get familiar with the abovementioned theories and models as well as their practitional implications.

EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES

Basics of energy & sustainability. Energy sources and uses at global level, Top Countries in production and usage of energy, The concept of Sustainability as better use of resources, Diffusion of the concept of Sustainability in global firms.

Regulatory Framework. Incentive schemes, obligations, and certifications related to the production (e.g., renewable sources) and the consumption (e.g., energy efficiency or environmental certifications) of energy. The evolution of the regulatory framework in Europe and its impact on industry dynamics.

Market and industry dynamics in traditional energy industries. Global Market dynamics, Technologies & Business Models (Revenues, Margins, Organization) in the production of electricity from hydrocarbons and in the oil&gas industry. Analysis of top players at global and European level.

The electricity sector. Industry organization. Power generation and the wholesale market. Generation technology perspectives: investment and production costs. Networks and Retail.

Market and industry dynamics in renewable energy industries. Global Market dynamics, Technologies & Business Models (Revenues, Margins, Organization) in renewables (PV, Wind, Biomasses, Hydro, CSP, Thermal Solar, CHP,…). Analysis of top players at global and European level.

Market and industry dynamics in energy efficiency. Global Market dynamics, Technologies & Business Models (Revenues, Margins, Organization) in energy efficiency for buildings and for industrial processes. Analysis of top players at global and European level.

Strategy&Sustainability. The adoption of sustainable technologies, products and processes in global firms. Pros and cons of sustainability at a firm level. Impacts of sustainability on firm’s performance. The circular economy.

Energy Communities, Smart Cities and Smart Grids. The role of digital technologies in the energy management. Integrating new technologies for producing, using and storing energy in local environments (energy communities) as well as in cities (smart cities). The role of the infrastructure (smart grid) in the development of energy communities and smart cities. Business cases and examples of energy communities, smart cities and smart grids.

The lectures will be supplemented by the active class discussion of business cases and by real-world examples.

The assessment is made through an oral exam on the topics of the course. Questions concern both theoretical aspects and the ability to link the different topics discussed along the course.

Students are requested to develop an in-course project, by focusing on one of the topics of the course.